System, method and program product for monitoring the use of an exercise ball by a user and exercise ball which can be used in such a system

• US 20170021229A1
• Filed: 07/13/2016
• Published: 01/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technogym SpA
• Original Assignee: Technogym SpA
• Inventors: TASCA, Ermanno, Sarti, Cristiano, Zanuso, Silvano, Leonardi, Andrea, Cei, Daniele
• Granted Patent: US 10,463,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/12 for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 39/06 Special coverings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/125 Large inflatable balls primarily used as body supports for exercising, e.g. balancing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

Disclosed are an exercise ball as well as a system, method and computer program product for monitoring the use of the exercise ball by a user. An exemplary system comprises: a first data processing unit; an exercise ball comprising a shell and a monitoring unit operatively associated with the shell, said monitoring unit comprising at least one sensor for detecting a parameter representative of the movement of the exercise ball by the user, the first data processing unit being configured to determine and provide the user with data representative of the use of the exercise ball by the user based on parameters representative of the movement of the exercise ball by the user detected by said at least one sensor.

Claims

1. System for monitoring the use of an exercise ball by a user, comprising:

a first data processing unit;

an exercise ball comprising a shell and a monitoring unit operatively associated with the shell, said monitoring unit comprising at least one sensor for detecting a parameter representative of the movement of the exercise ball by the user,

the first data processing unit being configured to determine and provide the user with data representative of the use of the exercise ball by the user based on parameters representative of the movement of the exercise ball by the user detected by said at least one sensor.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the first data processing unit is configured to determine and provide the user with the user'"'"'s weight, determined based on said parameters representative of the movement of the exercise ball detected by said at least one sensor.

3. System according to claim 1, wherein the first data processing unit is further configured to determine and provide the user with an alert representative of the expiration of a set reference time interval for the use of the exercise ball.

4. System according to claim 1, wherein the first data processing unit is further configured to determine and provide the user with information representative of the trend over time of the data representative of the movement of the exercise ball detected by said at least one sensor.

5. System according to claim 1, wherein the first data processing unit is configured to provide the user with data representative of the use of the exercise ball by the user by means of a display module or by means of a buzzer o by means of a display module and by means of a buzzer.

6. System according to claim 1, further comprising a first data communication module, operatively connected to the first data processing unit, adapted to communicate data by means of a data communication channel of the wireless type.

7. System according to claim 6, further comprising an electronic device that can be associated with the user, the first data processing unit and the first data communication module being integrated into the electronic device.

8. System according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring unit further comprises:

a second data processing unit,

a second data communication module, operatively connected to the second data processing unit, adapted to communicate data by means of a data communication channel of the wireless type.

9. System according to claim 8, wherein the first data processing unit corresponds to the second processing unit.

10. Method for monitoring the use of an exercise ball by a user, comprising the steps of:

detecting, by at least one sensor with which the exercise ball is provided, a parameter representative of the movement of the exercise ball by the user;

determining, by a first data processing unit, data representative of the use of the exercise ball by the user based on parameters representative of the movement of the exercise ball by the user detected by said at least one sensor;

providing the user, by the first data processing unit, with the determined data representative of the use of the exercise ball by the user.

11. Method according to claim 10, comprising the steps of:

determining, by the first data processing unit, the user'"'"'s weight based on said parameters representative of the movement of the exercise ball detected by said at least one sensor;

providing the user, by the first data processing unit, with the determined user'"'"'s weight.

12. Method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

determining, by means of the first data processing unit, an alert representative of the expiration of a set reference time interval for the use of the exercise ball;

providing the user, by the first data processing unit, with such alert.

13. Method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

determining, by the first data processing unit, information representative of the trend over time of the data representative of the movement of the exercise ball detected by said at least one sensor;

providing the user, by the first data processing unit, with such information.

14. Exercise ball comprising:

a shell;

a monitoring unit operatively associated with the shell, said monitoring unit comprising;

at least one sensor for detecting a parameter representative of the movement of the exercise ball by the user,

a data communication module adapted to communicate such parameter representative of the movement of the exercise ball by the user to a first data processing unit by means of a data communication channel of the wireless type.

15. Exercise ball according to claim 14, wherein the monitoring unit of the exercise ball is integrated into the shell of the exercise ball.

16. Exercise ball according to claim 15, wherein the shell comprises a hole through which it is possible to introduce pressurized air into the shell, such hole being provided with a suitable closure valve such that the shell filled with air can maintain the shape, the monitoring unit being associated with or integrated into a portion of the shell wherein the hole is present with the respective closing valve.

17. Exercise ball according to claim 16, wherein the monitoring unit is associated with or integrated into the closing valve of the hole of the shell.

18. Exercise ball according to claim 14, wherein the exercise ball comprises a cover of the shell, the monitoring unit being integrated into the cover of the shell of the exercise ball 1.